FNQ leaders band together to oppose working-visa changes
Northern tourism
Far North Queensland’s premier tourism body has made an impassioned plea to the Federal Government to reconsider changes to the working-visa system, saying the impacts are being felt already with “hospitality and agricultural workers leaving rather than facing an uncertain future”.
A group of Cairns’ based leaders have joined with Tourism Tropical North Queensland to release a joint statement about the sweeping changes, including TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen, Port Douglas Marina owner Crystalbrook chief executive Geoff York, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, State Government Barron River MP Bree James, FNQ Growers Association chairman Joe Moro, Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patricia O’Neill, Regional Development Australia chief executive Lainie Poon and Advance Cairns operations manager Frankie Opie.
“Who will pick our food, who will put it on our plates, who will staff our child care centres and aged care homes, and who will provide the language skills needed to keep our visitors safe in the water?” the group stated.
“Working Holiday Makers are an essential part of our workforce and contribute to regional economies.
“We need them to stay.”
Federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced this month the number of second-year visas will be reduced from 57,000 to 45,000 places annually, and backpackers must still complete a required 88 days of specified regional work despite not being guaranteed a second year - they will then enter a ballot for the positions.
And third-year visas will also be cut significantly from 31,000 to just 5000 places.
“The Australian Government is committed to attracting the skills Australia needs, supporting economic growth and productivity, and ensuring migration settings work for Australian workers and communities,” a Federal Government Home Affairs Department statement said.
A “no further stay” condition is also being introduced to all visitor visas to “ensure they are only used by genuine visitors and not as a pathway to extending a stay in Australia”.
The Government will “stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications to three months” as well, it stated.
The changes will be progressively rolled out across the next year.
